National Republican., 1887-03-03
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
TIE NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL
PASSES THE SENATE.
Rnpid Progress Made in Both Houses
in the Disposition OF Important Bills
-Confusion Controls the Evening ses-
zion of the House.


ard copies Of dispatches from Gen. Miles
relative to the surrender Of Geronimo were
presented and ordered printed.
The Senate concurred in the House
amendments to the bill for bridge across
the Missouri river between Omaha and
Council Bluffs.
The Senate bill to create naval reserve
Of auxiliary cruisers, officers, and men was
reported back by Mr.. Whitthorne and
placed on the calendar.
A bill authorizing Winona, Minn., to con.
struct a bridge across the Mississippi at that
point was reported and calendared.
A Joint resolution to continue the fur-
nishing of hot water off the reservation to
the bath houses at Hot Springs, Ark, was
passed.
to cit during recess to continue the investl-
cation Of undervaluations Of imported mer-
cbandee. Similar authority was granted
the committee on privileges and elections.
A resolution calling on the Secretary OF
the Treasury for information concerning
the duties and hours OF night inspectors OF
the New York and Baltimore custom
houses from 1871 to 1878 was, on motion
of Senator Cockrell, adopted. d
Certain acts Of the Washington territory
legislature were validated.
A resolution granting one months extra
pay to Senate and House employees was cali
endared.s
The bill making Hartford, Conn, q port
OF entry instead OF Middletown was passed.
A bin for tine relief Of Alfred Hedberg
authorizing the President to restore him to
the army as n captain of infantry, was then
taken up. This bill gave rise to consider
able discussion. The record showed that
Hedberg had been dismissed In 1872 on
grave charges. Senator Hawley, however,
who had charge Of the bill, said that, while
he was generally opposed to restorations,
this act was demanded by simple justice.
The committee had examined every word
Of the evidence, in which the charges found
no support. 1t had been reviewed by sew
eral committees, and the report In each In
stance found that It was q case of persecu-
tion on trumped-up charges against good
soldier and deserving man. The bill was
passed, with amendments, on yea and nay
vote, by AZ to 8.
Bill granting right Of way over certain
lands In Utah was passed.
The Senate then took up the naval ap-
preparation bill aud adopted amendments
approprlating $4,000 for the repair OF
coasters, inserting for the bureau Of engi-
appropriation shall be applied to the repair
of engines OF wooden ships where the esti-
mated cost shall exceed 20 per cent. of the
cost of new engines.
The committee recommended striking
out the House provision for two swift
cruisers and four gunboats, to cost, exclu-
sive OF armament, not more than Si95O,OOO,
and providing for six protected steel cruis-
ers, with speed Of twenty knots, and ap-
propriating therefor $9,000,000 and So, $780,
600 for armament for the same and 6,0O0,-
eco for floating batteries for coast aud
harbor defensee; also appropriating S720,O
for lightdraught gunboats; also approprlat-
ing 100000 for torpedIo, boa boats and $6OO, ,OOo
for torpedoes, and 81, 100000 for armament
of these vessels.
Mr.. German questioned the policy Of re.
quiriDg one OF the cruisers to be built pear
the Pacific coast, and two near the Gulf OF
Mexico, and moved to strike out that pro-
vision. Mr.. Hale favored the provision,
and the same view was taken by Mr.. Nor Dor
gan, which. was opposed by Mr.
Beck, Mr.. Whitthorne, and Mr..
Maxey who thought there should be great
navy yard on the gulf coast, where the best
iron, steel, and live oak are to be had. Mr..
Blair said he voted reluctantly for enor
nous expenditures to defy, possibility ol
future conflict, and he thought this natioI
sense Of justice and refusing to engage II
any warfare to establish principle which
II It would not produce absolute peace
would result in elimination Of war from an,
civilized nation. He closed by reading I
paper on labor, industry, and education.
Mr.. Hale said that II the amendment:
proposed were agreed to the expenditures
would not exceed by more than 50, 700,
GOO the appropriation provided for b.
the House. The bill did not involve anl
raid on the treasury surplus. Great Britain
France, Germany, and Italy all expent
from $4,000, 900 to $l2,000,o00 year II
improving their navies. 1t was a shame Il
81 ne IN mn rntlaa Nuftb hilltpn
Of property exposed to any third rat
power. 1t was shame that the American
people were found without respectabl
naval establishment
Mr.. Plumb moved to strike out tn
appropriation of $6,000,0O0 for heavil
armered vessels or batteries for coas
defenses. He argued that the powe
of offense was greater than that Of defense
He was sure II provision to impose tax
to pay for the expenditures was inserted
they would not be made. He was opposet
to taking advantage Of the PROSTATE condi
tion of the House of Representatives, whic
had no conviction on this or any othe
an extra session. He said the New Yorl
Chamber of Commerce was brought int
this question as tender to private specu
lation.
Mr.. Dawes referred to tho fortiacatlon
bill adopted by the House last -yeai
amended in the Senate, which was referre
to q conference committee, and then criti
cieed the House for the delay In reporting
back for action, and eXonerated the Senat
and Its conferees for the present state O
things.
Mr. German justified the action of til
Senate conferees, and at this point of dis
cussion the Senate went into executive ses
sion, and subsequently took recess unit
$50 o'clock.
EVENING SESSION,
The consideration Of the naval approprli
tion bill was resumed at the evening session
and Senator Plumb amendment was r,
jected without division, and The amendmen
recommended by the committee adopted
1t strikes out the House provision for tw
swift cruisers to cost not to exceed $4.950
coo and inserts provision authorizing tl
President to have six protected steel cruiser
and armament at cost not to exceed, el
elusive Of armament, So, 900, 900 constructed
All the provisions Of the act Of August
1856, as to materials to be observed, and a
their parts shall be Of domestic manu-
facture.
The vessels must exhibit q maximum
speed OF at least twenty knots an hour, an
for every quarter knot above that thei
shall be paid premium OF $50, 600, and 70
every quarter knot less penalty OF $50 OF
shall be levied. The sum OF 81, $50, 900
appropriated for armament for the vessel
One vessel is to be constructed on or net
the Pacific Ocean, two near the coast of IL
Gulf OF Mexico, and three near the coast
the Atlantic Ocean.
In addition SO, 900, 600 is appropriated Il
the construction OF heavily armored vesse
or floating batteries for coast defense
$72O,0OO for light draught vessels for i
terror waterways, 5000, 900 for topedo boat
100000 for torpedoes, Of which $500
shall be Immediately available; for arm
ment OF vessels, 81 100000. .-
Amendments apprOprlating $ll2,OOO Y
the purchase of Ericeson's Destroyer, $2J
COO for the purchase of the Stlletto, an
$1,000 for the improvement of the nav
hospital park at Portsmouth, Va, We
agreed To.